What is the D0120 dental code?

It's the code for a periodic oral evaluation — a routine recall check-up for an established patient, used to monitor oral health over time.

How much does a D0120 exam cost?

Usually a modest amount, often around 25 to 75 USD depending on location and office, though many plans cover it fully as preventive care.

How often is D0120 covered by insurance?

Most plans allow two periodic evaluations per year (about once every six months) under preventive benefits. Extra exams may not be covered.

What's the difference between D0120 and D0150?

D0120 is the routine recall exam for established patients. D0150 is the more thorough comprehensive evaluation for new patients or those returning after a long absence.

Does D0120 include X-rays or a cleaning?

No. X-rays and cleanings are separate procedures with their own codes and are reported and billed separately, even when done the same day.

Can D0120 be billed at every visit?

It can be reported when a periodic evaluation is actually performed, but insurance frequency limits (typically twice a year) cap how often it's reimbursed.

D0120 Dental Code: Periodic Oral Evaluation Explained

Code Summary

D0120 is the CDT code for a periodic oral evaluation — the routine check-up exam your dentist does at a regular recall visit when you're already an established patient. It lets them spot changes since your last visit and usually goes hand-in-hand with your cleaning.

What D0120 means

D0120 covers the everyday check-up exam for someone the practice already knows. "D" marks it as a dental procedure, "01" places it in the diagnostic family, and "20" points to this periodic, established-patient evaluation. It assumes there's already a chart on file, so the dentist is comparing today's findings against your history rather than building a record from scratch.

During the visit the dentist reviews your teeth, gums, and soft tissues, checks for new decay or gum changes, and often performs an oral cancer screening. It's one of the most frequently reported codes in dentistry because most people get one at every six-month recall.

The most common mix-up is D0120 versus D0150. D0120 is the routine recall exam for an established patient; D0150 is the broader comprehensive evaluation used for new patients or when someone returns after a long gap. If you're a regular at the same office, your twice-a-year exam is almost always a D0120.

When it's typically used

D0120 is reported at routine recall visits — commonly every six months — for a patient the practice has seen before. It typically appears on the same day as a cleaning (D1110) and any recall X-rays.

How much does D0120 cost?

On its own a periodic exam is one of the lower-cost dental services, often roughly 25 to 75 USD depending on your area and office. It's frequently bundled into the price patients think of as "a cleaning visit," but it's coded and may be billed separately.

Is D0120 covered by insurance?

Most dental plans cover periodic evaluations under preventive care, very often at or near 100 percent, but usually limit them to two per year (sometimes phrased as once every six months). Going over that frequency, or having an exam too soon after a comprehensive one, can lead to a denial.

Frequently asked questions

What is the D0120 dental code?: It's the code for a periodic oral evaluation — a routine recall check-up for an established patient, used to monitor oral health over time.
How much does a D0120 exam cost?: Usually a modest amount, often around 25 to 75 USD depending on location and office, though many plans cover it fully as preventive care.
How often is D0120 covered by insurance?: Most plans allow two periodic evaluations per year (about once every six months) under preventive benefits. Extra exams may not be covered.
What's the difference between D0120 and D0150?: D0120 is the routine recall exam for established patients. D0150 is the more thorough comprehensive evaluation for new patients or those returning after a long absence.
Does D0120 include X-rays or a cleaning?: No. X-rays and cleanings are separate procedures with their own codes and are reported and billed separately, even when done the same day.
Can D0120 be billed at every visit?: It can be reported when a periodic evaluation is actually performed, but insurance frequency limits (typically twice a year) cap how often it's reimbursed.

This page is an independent, plain-language explanation for general information only. It is not billing, coding, or clinical advice. For the official CDT descriptor and current-year wording, refer to the American Dental Association.